When I felt God wanted me to learn about church unity, I was hesitant. In the past, I’ve seen Christians pushing unity for the sake of silencing truth. What a blessing to learn that Biblical unity is actually grounded in truth. However, it also opened my eyes to my own inadequacies in creating unity.
The Lord really highlighted Psalm 133 when I was researching this topic.
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore. Psalms 133:1-3 NIV
Psalm 133 BACKGROUND
This psalm of David celebrates unity. It is included in a group of psalms called the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134). These were a collection of songs the Jews would sing as they made their ‘ascent’ to Jerusalem to celebrate the feasts. The language in Psalm 133 indicates that unity is a sacred thing. Mount Herman, in the Northern part of Israel, is known to receive heavy dew, even though it has a very dry climate. Zion (meaning Jerusalem and the surrounding area) was further South. This could indicate connection and blessings of the land. The oil mentioned in Psalm 133 is referencing how a priest is anointed, as described in the Old Testament, bringing everyone together for God’s purpose.
He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times, anointing the altar and all its utensils and the basin with its stand, to consecrate them. He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him. Leviticus 8:11-12 NIV
Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head. Exodus 29:7 NIV
UNITY OF MARRIAGE
Did you know that unity brings about blessings? We can compare unity in the church to the important covenant of marriage. The church is modeled after marriage as it states in Ephesians 5:25 – Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. We know that marriage comes with sacrifice and always works best when both spouses continuously consider the needs of the other (and lay down offenses). In the church we are to sacrifice our selfishness for the sake of unity as well. However, that doesn’t mean you stay in an abusive marriage (or a corrupt church).
In a marriage you want to be in agreement for the major things and work through the petty things. We nurture our marital union because we want it to be strong. Unfortunately, most of us kind of stink at relationships. It takes work, perseverance and steadfastness to maintain healthy relationships.
DIVISION
If we’re going to understand unity, it’s helpful to understand division. The devil loves division. He counts on little seeds of discord being sown among believers to convince the church that they don’t actually belong together. But as we know, the enemy is a liar. He is after our minds and wants to twist and destroy anything good. However, in spite of this twisting, we must unite in truth.
There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV
Haughty eyes can also be translated to a ‘proud look’ (KJV), meaning elevating oneself above others. Shedding innocent blood is the same word used in Psalm 106:38 and Jeremiah 19:4 when it talks about the killing of the unborn (or just born) or children. We must protect the innocent. Plotting evil or running to do evil is also something God hates. But sowing discord (meaning division) is something God loathes, it is an abomination to Him. The KJV says it as ‘he that soweth discord among brethren’. Brethren can mean brothers or fellow believers.
Sadly, we have seen an increase in church leaders that are not leading with the right mind or heart. They preach about grace and the goodness of God but their own lives are not in alignment with the Lord. This is a very frustrating and all too common occurrence.
I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. Romans 16:17 NIV
UNITY
In one of his sermons, Dr. Tony Evans said “unity is not uniformity”. He explained that unity is when everyone has the same goal (or agenda) while being led by the Holy Spirit. When we leave the Holy Spirit out of unity, we get our motives wrong and end up with a the tower of Babel situation, trying to make a name for ourselves instead of God. (The Secret to Unlocking the Power of Unity, July 24, 2024, Tony Evans, YouTube)
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. Psalm 127:1 ESV
We want to be united in Christ in truth, resisting immoral behavior and pursuing righteousness and the fruits of the Spirit. Pursuing the whole gospel and setting others free from sin.
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions. 2 Timothy 4:3
Without the Holy Spirit, we risk being influenced by the world and coming into agreement with corruption and evil. Ultimately we will end up wanting to make a name for ourselves and forget about God.
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV
We weigh what we are hearing from the Holy Spirit with the Word of God to make sure we are not being persuaded by the world.
…so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Ephesians 4:14 ESV
HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE US
How do we avoid the slippery slope of disunity? I believe we must continue to come together in truth and love. But most importantly, ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and study the Word for God’s truth on every matter.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6 ESV
ACTION
As Christians, we are to be rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3) and be filled with the fullness of God. We are to be capable of discerning God’s Word from the world, having the Sword of the Spirit at our side at all times. The Sword of the Spirit refers to the Word of God in Ephesians 6. We are to use it to contend for the faith as described in the book of Jude. We must be anchored in Biblical truth and unite in that.
Church unity is possible! Here are a few things that anyone can do to encourage unity:
1. Encourage one another.
2. Thank someone who is serving you or others.
3. Check in on someone who’s been on your heart.
4. Gather people together for Bible studies and teach the Word.
5. Visit the sick and the elderly.
6. Have a meal with someone and talk about Jesus.
7. Pray, blessings over your children and over the children in your church.
8. Repent, make amends and forgive.
9. Read the Word so you are always reminded of what pleases and displeases God.
10. Pray for your family, friends, church and community.
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV
As we know, any relationship take a bit of work but a marriage, even more so. We fight for our marriage to protect and nourish it. It is the same with the church. We are to contend for the faith (Jude 1:3). When we live in unity (or contend for unity), we will see God’s blessings! His natural order and peace will be there. We can’t neglect unity, it’s too important.
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